Storm-damaged pier reopens after two months

A pier in West Sussex which was closed for two months due to storm damage has reopened on Wednesday.

Worthing Pier closed on 10 October after one of the underside supports was damaged during a storm.

It meant nobody could walk on the 162-year-old pier, while restaurant Perch on the Pier had to lay off nearly half of its staff.

A temporary steel truss has been installed which will remain until Worthing Borough Council finds a more permanent solution.

“We’re delighted to see the team back in the building and people back on the pier again,” said Alex Coombes, owner of Perch on the Pier restaurant.

“Closing with 12 hours’ notice was always going to be a challenge. It was very difficult to work out what was going to come in next. Waiting on tenterhooks has been very difficult for the team and budget purposes, it has taken a toll.

“But we’re back now and excited to be back. We’re in discussions with people now about what we do next and how that works [hiring staff that had to be laid off].

"It was very difficult to make every decision perfectly, certainly by spring we will have a full roster.”

Mr Coombes added that being closed for two months wiped out the restaurant’s profits for the year.

The repair was delayed at the end of the November due to bad weather.

“It’s been a while but they’ve done a pretty good job, I’ve been coming down here since I was 12,” said fisherman Bas, 64.

The council has estimated repair costs to be in excess of £430,000, which will not be covered by its existing budget for pier maintenance.

Council leader Sophie Cox told BBC Radio Sussex: “We’re absolutely delighted that the pier is back open again.

“The work has been around the clock during the tidal windows to get it back open again.”

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